Friday 5: Gordon Mack

It's been a while since the "Friday 5" has made an appearance here at The Hall.  Then again, it's been since forever that MLB Fan Cave dweller (and friend of The Hall) Gordon Mack has had a chance to attend the MLB All-Star Game.

That said, dude was in Kansas City for all the festivities and, naturally, had his five favorite moments from the Midsummer Classic.

1.  Offering Philadelphia Phillies closer Jonathan Papelbon a $5000 check if he would come to the Fan Cave when they play the Mets again.

2.  Asking Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz if he would change his name officially to Chooch Ruiz.

3.  Partying with all of the mascots.

4.  Taking batting practice on the field in my Toms Shoes.

5.  Finally watching a live baseball game.

Gordon Mack is a Philadelphia Phillies fan who, before entering the MLB Fan Cave, had been working in Manhattan as a video editor.  According to his bio over at MLB.com, his original dream job was to design roller coasters, but that was put aside once he learned he could watch baseball as a profession.

You can follow him on Twitter at @gordonmack.

Friday 5: Casey Bond

Let's say you're in a movie (we'll call it "Moneyball") nominated for an Academy Award...where do you watch the Oscar telecast if your name isn't Brad Pitt?

I was curious, so I caught up with Casey Bond, the actor that played Chad Bradford in the Oscar-nominated movie, and asked him just that.

HOVG:  Before we get into anything else...where did you watch the Academy Awards Sunday night?

BOND:  I watched the Academys with some friends at a small gathering.

HOVG:  Are you surprised that "Moneyball" got shut out?

BOND:  I was hoping we would step away with something, no doubt. However, there were some great contenders, so it's just a good feeling to be in the mix even though we didn't win.

HOVG:  I'm sure everyone has asked, but what was it like working with Brad Pitt? Did you learn anything from the four-time Oscar nominee?

BOND:  Brad is simply the man. He was so great to work with and just a solid dude. We were together for two months on set and he was very gracious to me. I learned plenty from him...from different acting tips to how to operate on set. He is a great example and I truly enjoyed working alongside him.

HOVG:  Switching gears...I saw your most recent Facebook post that showed you all decked out in full Royal Guard get up (see the picture below). Can you divulge what that was for?

BOND:  Hmmm...well, I can say that it was for a commercial.  And an ice cream commercial at that. I don't want to get into any legalities with spilling the beans on what company it was for unfortunately. I'm hoping you will all find out by watching it on a TV near you soon! I had a blast working on it. It will be a funny one, that’s for certain.

HOVG:  Outside of the commercial that shall not be named...what else do you have cooking?

BOND:  I just booked a lead role in a film and will be shooting it for the full month of March in Florida. But again, that's all I can say about it at the moment.

Before being cast in "Moneyball", Casey Bond was no stranger to baseball. Dude was actually drafted by the San Francisco Giants in 2007. You can follow him on Twitter at @CaseyBond, keep tabs on him over at Facebook or, imagine that...check out his personal website.

Also, if you're curious as to what Bond's favorite baseball movies are...here's the answer!

Friday 5 (Oscar Edition): Casey Bond

Tonight's the night, baseball fans.  Soon, we'll know if "Moneyball" will go six-for-six (a even Derek Jeter has never accomplished), or, well...come home with anything at all.

Enter Casey Bond. 

Like Stephen Bishop, who played David Justice in "Moneyball" , Bond also played a former member of the Oakland Athletics in the Oscar nominated film.  Bond played submarine-throwing reliever Chad Bradford. 

I caught up with Bond on the eve of the Academy Awards and asked him how he would rank his all-time favorite baseball movies.

1.  Moneyball  (2011, directed by Bennett Miller)

2.  Bull Durham  (1988, directed by Ron Shelton)

3.  The Sandlot  (1993, directed by David M. Evans)

4.  Field of Dreams  (1989, directed by Phil Alden Robinson)

5.  For Love of the Game  (1999, directed by Sam Raimi)

Casey Bond is no stranger to baseball.  The actor was actually drafted by the San Francisco Giants in 2007.  You can follow him on Twitter at @CaseyBond, keep tabs on him over at Facebook or, imagine that...check out his personal website.

Lastly, I'm a big "Bull Durham" guy...but what about you?  What are your favorite baseball movies?

Talkin' Ryan Braun (Kinda) with Curt Hogg

Up until Friday afternoon, I had never heard of the Milwaukee Brewers-themed blog, The Plushdamentals, much less, it's 16-year-old scribe Curt Hogg.

But now, I'm simply the next guy to email him blindly asking for a Q&A.

You see, the Brown Deer (Wisconsin) High School junior is the guy who, last week,  took a shot in the dark and, in the process, scooped the world on the Ryan Braun PED story.

That's right, Hogg is the self-proclaimed "up-and-coming journalist" (and who can debate that now?) who, on February 14, posted this:

According to sources, the results were not immediately sent to Major League Baseball as they should have been. Instead, the test samples were brought back to the collector’s residence in Kenosha, Wisconsin. There they remained, refrigerated, overnight until they were mailed in the next morning. While it is not assured that there is sufficient information to show that the test was mishandled, it supports Braun’s case.

Sound familiar?

I had a chance to talk with Hogg and ask his about his whirlwind couple of days in the national spotlight.

HOVG:  Alright, dude…you’re blowing up right now.  What has been the craziest thing that’s happened in the last couple of days?

HOGG:  The whole thing has been pretty insane, but the morning after the Braun news broke I got a tweet from a University of Wisconsin student saying they were discussing my journalism in her advanced journalism class.

HOVG:  The situation is pretty intriguing, really.  If you’re wrong…it’s cool.  You’re guilty of taking a shot in the dark.  If you’re right…you’re a hero.  Did you spend the last nine days waiting for your just desserts or just going about your daily routine?

HOGG:  I didn't really wait too much to see if my report was going to be true. I was more waiting on the actual verdict on the Braun case.

HOVG:  Have you heard from your unnamed source since you first reported the story on Braun’s sample being mishandled or do you think it was forgotten?

HOGG:  I've talked to the source, yes.

HOVG:  I saw in your Deadspin interview that you didn’t have school on Friday.  What do you think the reaction is going to be Monday when you return?  Business as usual…or something else?

HOGG:  I'll be getting a lot of "Hey Curt! I saw you on the news dude!" and stuff like that. It's going to be complete chaos, so pretty much business as usual.

HOVG:  Lastly…a two-parter.  Where do you think, if anywhere, this will take you?  And two…where do you want, if anywhere, this to take you?

HOGG:  I don't think one story by itself can carry so much momentum as to take me places beyond my "15 minutes". But add the notoriety to what I hope will be improved writing, and I hope to go places. And as for part two, in the immediate future I see studying journalism in college and going from there.

So what's next for Hogg?  Who knows?!?  Heck...who could have predicted this?  Find out what dude is doing by hitting up his site or following him on twitter at @CurtKnowsBest.

Friday 5: Stephen Bishop

This Sunday, "Moneyball" will either be the first baseball-related movie given the Best Picture Award at the Academy Awards...or the most recent to not deliver.

One of the actors featured prominently in the film is Stephen Bishop.  And while you might not know his name (yet), you definitely are aware of him...dude played David Justice.

I had a chance to catch up with the actor, and while he hasn't shared the big screen with Justice's ex-wife (yet), I was curious if he had some favorite Halle Berry movies.

Here's how he responded.

1.  Boomerang  (1992, directed by Reginald Hudlin)

2.  Losing Isaiah  (1995, directed by Stephen Gyllenhaal)

3.  Swordfish  (2001, directed by Dominic Sena)

4.  Die Another Day  (2002, directed by Lee Tamahori)

5.  Monster's Ball  (2001, directed by Marc Forster)

Stephen Bishop can currently be see in "Safe House" and, on May 18, "Battleship".  You can follow him on Twitter at @stephencbishop.     

A Year of Talkin' Baseball: 2011

A "Bleacher Creature", a Hall of Famer and two ballhawks.  Individually, they mean precious little, but collectively, they've each touched the collective heart of this website.

And much like last year, I take great pleasure in bringing you the best of what has become my favorite part of doing this site...talkin' baseball with whoever will respond. 

Click the BOLD text to read the entire Kato-free piece!

Hall Favorite JOSE CANSECO...Almost (January)

Do you work for free because I don't if you want your rating to skyrocket then negotiate a deal with me I am the only 1 that really knows what was really going on

And speaking of Canseco (I know, I know), two of the biggest stories to come from his stint as the manager of the Yuma Scorpions was his hiring by team General Manager JOSE MELENDEZ (May) and the on air resignation of Lake County Fielders announcer QUMAR ZAMAN (July).

"Survivor" Hall of Fame Creator GORDON HOLMES (February)

I’m going with the alliance that is going to put a million dollar check in my pocket. I’m going to start off with Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa. While I’m making good with the rest of the tribe, he’ll be off going over every possible jury combination. When he would interact with the tribe, they’d hate him because he wouldn’t take off his sunglasses under any circumstances.

Hall of Famer ANDRE DAWSON (April)

Well, Barry (Bonds) did what he did (but) the record probably is tainted as a result of the steroid scandal. Hank Aaron was a guy that I idolized growing up because his journey to get to where he was and how he accomplished what he did. To me, he’ll always be the all-time home run king.

Third Generation Broadcaster JOSH CARAY (April)

The people who "expect" me to be another Harry/Skip/Chip are generally people who don't know this industry and all the politics that go into it. My grandfather and father could get away with a lot of things that I cannot.

Former First Round Pick JOSH BOOTY (June)

Shaq is a bud…a great guy that everyone loves. He used to come by my apartment in college and it scared my Jack Russell terrier to death when he walked in. My dog would bark non-stop.

My Favorite Ballhawks TIMMY ANDERSON (August) and ZACK HAMPLE (October).

I'd like to have my hands on a milestone homerun, whether it be from Bonds or someone's 500th or 600th. Imagine having a Babe Ruth homerun ball? Wow.

"Bleacher Creature" BALD VINNY (July)

My only feat of strength is that I’m a loud motherf*cker. I was kind of anointed the job by Tina Lewis, who is our Queen Bee. She is the one who asked me to start and as it turns out…I’m really loud. It was “you did a really good job yesterday…do you want to do it today?” “Okaaaaaay.” After that it sorta took on a life of its own.

VH1's "Baseball Wives" Husband KRIS BENSON (December)

Anna's in her element. She was the first wife to make it cool to follow sports wives and for players wives to pose in magazines and spreads. Now everyone does it! Google it up.

In addition to the cast of characters above...I also touched base with three of my favorite baseball writers...MATTHEW SILVERMAN (April), DAN EPSTEIN (May) and JEFF PEARLMAN (October).

But, I think my favorite posts are the ones that include personal favorites.  WGN's NICK DIGILIO offered up his favorite baseball movies (September) and, for no reason, Tampa Bay Rays superstar SAM FULD shared his favorite superhero (June) and holiday films (December).

Which was your favorite?  Please sound off in the comments section below!


 

5 Days of Christmas: Sam Fuld

You're going to be reading a ton of Christmas-related posts during this, the week leading up to the anniversary of the birth of the baby Jesus...and this site is no different.

All this week, The Hall is presenting the "Five Days of Christmas". That's right, five straight days of one of The Hall's most popular features...the "Friday 5".

Earlier this season, Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Sam Fuld broke down his five favorite superhero movies.

Now...in the spirit of the season, here are "Super" Sam's favorite holiday flicks.

Love Actually (2003, directed by Richard Curtis)
Says Sam:  I'm an unabashed sucker for rom-coms.

It's a Wonderful Life  (1946, directed by Frank Capra)
Says Sam:  Jimmy Stewart is unreal in this, I try to watch it every year.

Elf  (2003, directed by Jon Favreau)
Says Sam:  Will Ferrell in tights...enough said.

Home Alone  (1990, directed by Chris Columbus)
Says Sam:  So good they made a Home Alone 4.

Polar Express  (2004, directed by Robert Zemeckis)
Says Sam:  I loved the book as a kid...love Tom Hanks.

5 Days of Christmas: Ashkon

You're going to be reading a ton of Christmas-related posts during this, the week leading up to the anniversary of the birth of the baby Jesus...and this site is no different.

All this week, The Hall is presenting the "Five Days of Christmas". That's right, five straight days of one of The Hall's most popular features...the "Friday 5".

Hooray!

And in case you were in the need for some suggestions on what to listen to...our favorite San Francisco Giants fan (and a decent singer in his own right) Ashkon Davaran has some suggestions.

Jingle Bell Rock
Ashkon says:  A timeless classic.

Little Drummer Boy

Ashkon says:  It's just so...epic.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Ashkon says:  Always loved Rudolph as a kid.  Great underdog story.

Happy Xmas (War Is Over)

Ashkon says:  I had to get Lennon up in here.

All I Want for Christmas is You

Ashkon says:  Mariah.  Guilty Pleasure.

But if you really want a modern holiday classic...you've gotta check out Ashkon's "Shake it Like a Snowglobe".

5 Days of Christmas: Jonah Keri

You're going to be reading a ton of Christmas-related posts during this, the week leading up to the anniversary of the birth of the baby Jesus...and this site is no different.

All this week, The Hall is presenting the "Five Days of Christmas". That's right, five days straight of one of The Hall's most popular features...the "Friday 5".

Hooray!

In just a few weeks, we're going to find out if anyone will be voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame by the BBWAA and one guy who has taken the time to break down the ballot every which way is New York Times bestselling author Jonah Keri.

And if Keri had his way...these are the five, er, six guys on the current Hall of Fame ballot who would have their Christmas dreams fulfilled.

1.  Tim Raines

Raines’ worthiness has been documented at length. He’s the best pure base stealer of all-time, swiping 808 bases at an 85% success rate...easily the highest rate of success for any base stealer at or near that frequency. He also reached base more times in his career than Roberto Clemente, Tony Gwynn or Lou Brock. Replace 400 of Raines’ walks with singles and he has 3,000 hits and strolls into the Hall. Or just replace, say, 600 Raines walks with 400 singles and 200 outs...he’s an inferior player at that point, but he still has his 3,000 hits, and he’s in.

2.  Jeff Bagwell
There are three plausible reasons for why Bagwell didn't get in on last year's ballot:

• Voters are extremely reluctant to vote for players on their first ballot, unless they've had extraordinary careers. This is the Joe DiMaggio argument. If Joe D didn't get in on his first try, why should Player X make it?
• Suspicion of PED use. There is no hard evidence to suggest Bagwell used. We're not doctors. We don't try to fake our way through brain surgery. Let's not feign expertise when it comes to outing PED users either.
• Bagwell gets lumped in with all the other slugging first basemen of his era. I am slightly more attuned to this argument. It is certainly true that the era in which Bagwell played featured a cavalcade of first baseman who can mash (partly due to PED use), but likely even more so because of smaller ballparks, smaller strike zones, and other factors. And Bagwell did fall a bit short of some round numbers, just missing a .300 lifetime batting average (.297) and falling more than a bit short of 500 homers (449).

3.  Barry Larkin
Last year, Larkin bagged the highest percentage of the vote (62.1 percent) for any player who didn't gain the 75 percent needed for induction. History tells us that players who fare that well in the voting on their first two tries are a lock to eventually gain induction sooner than later. He might even get in now, in a very weak year for first-time candidates.  Apply a sniff test, or a numerical test, and he should get in.

4.  Mark McGwire
And here we come to a player who actually has acknowledged using PEDs. There are any number of ways to handle a player like McGwire, with no perfect answer to quandary. My stance: It's a tiebreaker, that's about it. We know many players used in McGwire's era, and we know that offensive conditions were extremely favorable to players even without chemical helpers. So if a player is borderline by statistical standards and has either admitted to using or been busted for it, I'll leave him off my fake ballot. McGwire was not borderline.

5.  Edgar Martinez
There's some merit to the argument that a designated hitter should be highly scrutinized when weighing his Hall of Fame worth, given their lack of defensive value. But Edgar was a godless hitting machine, hitting .312/.418/.515, placing 44th all time in WPA. He benefited from the hitter-friendly Kingdome in the early part of his career, but then continued to rake at Safeco Field, a nightmare of a ballpark for right-handed power hitters. The Mariners' near-sightedness prevented Edgar from cracking the everyday lineup until age 27; even the biggest DH haters would likely back him had he broken in three or four years earlier. But there's no need to play what-if here. He gets my vote.

6.  Alan Trammell

There's a running theme to all of these picks: Each one requires nuance to properly evaluate their skills. Now if you're an extreme Small Hall voter (or fan) who believes Cooperstown should enshrine Ruth, Mays, and maybe five other guys, Trammell's not your man. But if we're going by existing Hall of Fame standards, Trammell is a worthy choice. His career looks fairly similar to Larkin's, with comparable career value to Ozzie Smith (66.9 WAR for Trammell, 64.6 for Ozzie). The Hall of Fame doesn't get diminished if Trammell gets in. If anything, Tram and double play partner Lou Whitaker (69.7 WAR, but somehow off the ballot for not even getting the needed 5% to stay on) should go in together, with the spirit of Ernie Harwell ushering them in.

You can check out Keri's entire ballot breakdown over at Grantland or better yet...head on over to Amazon and buy his latest book, The Extra 2%: How Wall Street Strategies Took a Major League Baseball Team from Worst to First.

5 Days of Christmas: Aaron Perlut

You're going to be reading a ton of Christmas-related posts during this, the week leading up to the anniversary of the birth of the baby Jesus...and this site is no different.

All this week, The Hall is presenting the "Five Days of Christmas". That's right, five days straight of one of The Hall's most popular features...the "Friday 5".

Hooray!

With only a few days left to get that baseball (and mustache) lover in your life a present...why not get them a Nike Hair-itage shirt?

But which one?  Thankfully, Dr. Aaron Perlut from the American Mustache Institute broke down your five best options...and they're all priced under 20 bucks.

Andre Dawson

Randy Johnson

Eddie Murray

Willie Stargell

Reggie Jackson

So, yeah, I know what you're asking yourself..."self, why did Dr. Perlut omit reigning Robert Goulet Memorial Mustached American of the Year John Axford from the list?"

According to Perlut..."Axford was too far above the rest so we just let the secondary Mustached American tees fend for themselves."

Makes sense to me.

For more great gift ideas for that mustache lover (or Mustached American) in your life...why not check out the AMI's 2011 Mustached American Holiday Gift Guide Video?

Friday 5: Jeff Pearlman

A quarter of a century ago, the Boston Red Sox were up 2-0 on the New York Mets and just days away from falling victim to one of baseball's biggest blunders.

And while most people just remember Red Sox first baseman Bill Buckner misplaying a routine grounder in Game Six...author Jeff Pearlman reminded us in his book The Bad Guys Won! that there was so much more that made the Mets winners.

HOVG: The Bad Guys Won! came out in 2005...how long did you plan to write about the 1986 Mets and what prompted the desire to tell their story?

PEARLMAN:  It wasn't exactly a lengthy process. I was a writer at Sports Illustrated, and I'd never written a book. A literary agent named Susan Reed said, "How about the '86 Mets?" and I immediately loved the idea. That was my team growing up...an iconic bunch from an iconic era. I wish I could say, "I knew from the moment I held a pen that one day I'd write their story"...but I didn't. That said, sure glad I did.

HOVG: I followed the team religiously throughout the 1986 season and, obviously, the stories you uncovered were ones that most of us had never heard.  What is your favorite story?

PEARLMAN: Hmm...probably the flight back from Houston after the NLCS, which opens the book. It was just pure craziness, which you never see in today's game. This raw, carnal, unleashed joy. I always remember Ron Darling telling me about the woman throwing up on their leather outfits. Still an image that can't escape my mind.

HOVG: Were there any stories you couldn't include in the book (legal or otherwise)...that you wish you could have?

PEARLMAN: Hate to be lame...but, no. None come to mind.

HOVG:  A lot of people are familar with the backlash you're receiving with your current tome Sweetness.  What backlash, if any, did you receive from the Mets or their fans?

PEARLMAN:  Very little. Just the opposite. Of all my books, that's the one that has attained a certain cult status. It's among Mets fans, and maybe cult is too strong. But I always have people come up or write me and say, "Man, that book!" Which gives me such great feelings. It's very meaningful, because the book was a genuine labor of love.  Oh, wait, almost forgot. There was one tiny backlash. I appeared on the "Best Damn Sports Show" in LA. My co-guests were supposed to be Ron (Darling) and Len Dykstra. Dykstra never showed up...supposedly he was pissed.

HOVG:  Lastly, of all the members of the team...who would you LEAST like to meet face-to-face in a dark alley?

PEARLMAN:  Easy...Tim Corcoran. He only played a handful of games, and we never spoke. In an alley I'd be embarrassed, because I wouldn't recognize him.

Jeff Pearlman has had a pretty storied career as a writer having written for SI.com, ESPN.com,  Yahoo.com and Sports Illustrated.  In addition to The Bad Guys Won!, he's penned books about the 1990s Dallas Cowboys, Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens.

His most recent offering, Sweetness: The Enigmatic Life of Walter Payton, is on the New York Times bestseller list.

You can follow Pearlman on Twitter at @jeffpearlman.  You can also check out his shenagins on the internets at JeffPearlman.com.

Friday 5: Nick Digilio

Well, stat nerds...today is the big day.

"Moneyball" hits the big screens.

Even though the reviews around the blogosphere have been mixed, the Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer is sitting at 92%, so, who can you believe?

Enter my old friend, WGN radio personality, film critic and baseball fan Nick Digilio.  I caught up with Digilio and asked him what he thought of "Moneyball" and where he would rank it among his all-time favorite baseball movies.

1. The Bad News Bears  (1976, directed by Michael Ritchie)

2. Field of Dreams  (1989, directed by Phil Alden Robinson)

3. Eight Men Out  (1988, directed by John Sayles)

4. Moneyball  (2011, directed by Bennett Miller)

5. Bang the Drum Slowly  (1973, directed by John D. Hancock)

Personally, I'm a big "Bull Durham" guy...but what about you?  What are your favorite baseball movies?

And if you've never listened...you can check out Digilio every weekend on WGN Radio (and online), Friday from 10:00pm until 2:00 am and again on Saturday from 6:00 to 11:00pm.

Friday 5: Closer Music

Hey gang, it's me...your old friend "Disappointed".

Last week, after Mariano Rivera locked down save number 600, the story behind his entrance music hit the interwebs.

"I didn't pick the song. I don't pay attention to the music," Rivera said of the iconic Metallica track "Enter Sandman".  When I go in there, I'm going to business. I have a job to do, that's it."

Seriously?

C'mon, Mariano...how's about you let some of us think that you waltzed into the pressbox Milton Bradley-style and demanded that some metal be played when you came into the game.

Would that be too much to ask?

Well, coincidence or not...Eric Freeman from the A.V. Club did some research on closer's music.  He broke down what it takes to select effective entrance music and included five of his favorites.

Here you go:

Trevor Hoffman:  "Hell's Bells"

Brian Wilson:  "Jump Around"

John Axford:  New Noise"

Chris Perez:  "Firestarter"

Jonathan Papelbon:  "I'm Shipping Up to Boston"

So what would yours be?  I always thought I would go with Metallica's "For the Whom the Bell Tolls"...but, lately, I'm leaning my toward the Faith No More and Boo-Ya T.R.I.B.E.'s collarborative effort "Another Body Murdered".

Friday 5: John Lindsey

One of the best stories to come out of the 2010 baseball season was that of John Lindsey.  You know the story, right? Dude spends 16 years in the Minors before getting called up by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Yeah...THAT'S John Lindsey.

I sat on this the entire season hoping Lindsey would make his way back to the Majors...but now, a year after he got his lone big league hit (it was a year ago this past Monday by the way), it was time to break this puppy out.

HOVG: You spent more time in the Minors that most people do playing the game itself...where were you when you got the call that you were heading to the show?

JOHN: Wow! Yes, I have spent some time in the Minors but I am truly blessed to still be playing baseball. I was in Round Rock, Texas when I received the call. It was a great day for me and I still remember it like it was yesterday.

HOVG: While you were set to make your debut in San Diego, you were pulled before you could make it up to the plate. The next night in Houston, with your family in the crowd, you dug in against Gustavo Chacin...walk me through that experience.

JOHN: It was a lot of fun when I was in San Diego. I was all set to get my at bat and they had a lefty on the mound. I was really pumped because I was getting ready to face him. But when they made the pitching change I could only laugh when (then-manager Joe) Torre put someone in to pitch hit for me. It was awesome for me to have the opportunity to play in Houston because my family was able to see my first at bat. They have  been with me for so long in the minors, so I was so happy that they could be a part of it. As for the at bat, I was actually normal after I stepped in and saw the pitcher. Once my nerves calmed down and it was just like riding a bike in my opinion.

HOVG: A couple of nights later you got your first hit, your only hit, a single off Nelson Figueroa...how did that finally feel?

JOHN: Well that was a great time for me after 16 seasons and to be able to get that hit made it worth every second. Now I hope it is not the last!

HOVG: After a lifetime in the Minor Leagues, your story (like that of "Bull Durham") reads like a movie script. If they made "Mayor: The John Lindsey Story"...who would you cast to play you?

JOHN: I do not know...maybe James Earl Jones, but he's too old to be a 30-year-old slugger. I guess the second choice would be "The Rock" aka Dwayne Johnson, but I think he might have to get in a little better shape. (Laughs)

HOVG: What's next for John Lindsey?

JOHN: What's next for me is to get red hot and make it back to the Dodgers and become the right hand bat off the bench for the next six years! Sounds like a great plan or have the opportunity to play in Japan.

The 34-year-old John Lindsey spent the entire 2011 season for the Dodgers Triple-A team in Albuquerque.  In 75 games, he hit 13 home runs and collected a .309 batting average.

He is hoping to, again, get that elusive cup of coffee with the Dodgers.

Friday 5: Jack McDowell

This past weekend, one of my favorite bands (Pearl Jam) celebrated their 20 years together with an epic two-night concert event.

But did you know that the band’s frontman Eddie Vedder shares a special bond with 1993 American League Cy Young Award winner Jack McDowell?

And it has nothing to do with music.

One of them is a San Dieguito Academy alum…the other is their varsity baseball coach.  And, sure, it was a lame segue…but it was the only way to get to this week’s “Friday 5” with fellow Pearl Jam fan “Black Jack”.

HOVG:  Right off the bat, I've gotta know…where do you keep your Cy Young Award.

BLACK JACK:  My Cy Young Award is hanging on my wall in my office.

HOVG:  During your career, what batter gave you the most trouble.

BLACK JACK:  2011 Hall of Fame inductee Roberto Alomar.  (Note:  Alomar was 17-for-35, good for a .486 batting average against McDowell)

HOVG:  Is there anyone out there today that you'd love to face off against?

BLACK JACK:  I’d like to face Albert Pujols of the St. Louis Cardinals…just to see how it'd go. 

HOVG:  Alright, let’s talk music…what five bands occupy the most space in your mp3 device or on your record shelf?

BLACK JACK:  The Replacements, R.E.M., Pearl Jam, The Smiths, The Beatles occupy the most space.

HOVG:  Who are your current favorites?

BLACK JACK:  My faves at the moment are Glen Campbell, Arcade Fire and Deathcab for Cutie.

HOVG:  You’ve been making music for a few decades now and have played with a number of fellow ballplayers along the way.  Who is the most musically inclined?

BLACK JACK:  Former teammates Scott Radinsky and Bernie Williams.

Jack McDowell played in the Majors from 1987 until 1999, putting together an impressive 127-87 record and a 3.85 ERA.

In 1993, while with the Chicago White Sox, he took home the American League Cy Young Award after going 22-10 with a 3.37 ERA.  That same season, McDowell set a modern (post-1950) record by recording a decision in each of his first 27 starts.

As mentioned before, “Black Jack” is currently the varsity baseball coach at San Dieguito Academy in Encinitas, California. 

However...you can still catch him rocking out with his band Stickfigure from time to time.

Friday 5: CM Punk

If you follow enough baseball players on the Twitters, you'll find that a number of them are either fans of pro wrestling...or want to be pro wrestlers.

That said, to find a pro wrestler that is a fan of baseball might be harder to do.

Recently, Chicago Sun-Times reporter Joe Cowley caught up with WWE Superstar (and Chicago native), CM Punk and talked to him about his beloved Cubs.

Enjoy!

COWLEY: Tell me about these dirty-looking Cubs hats I hear you’re always wearing.

CM PUNK: I’ve lost a few, and a couple have simply disintegrated. I had one that I wore so long that when I washed it, well, it simply turned to dust.

COWLEY: You always talk about what’s ‘‘good for business.’’ What’s good for Cubs business at this point?

CM PUNK: They removed (Jim) Hendry. That was a step in the right direction. It’s a good team...we just make stupid decisions. As far as GM, hmmm...they should offer me the job. I could be a reliever, too. We’re in discussions.

COWLEY: Did you bother rooting for the Sox in 2005?

CM PUNK: Couldn’t bring myself to do it. And the Game 4 clincher (against the Houston Astros) was on my birthday. A.J. (Pierzynski) reminds me of that all the time.

COWLEY: A.J. has been in the ring and has a belt. Any chance...

CM PUNK:  Pierzynski? He does have a belt, but I have championship titles. He’s not in my league.

COWLEY: Best wrestling entrance of all-time?

CM PUNK: Undertaker’s, easily.

You can read the rest of Cowley's interview with the WWE Superstar by checking out the Chicago Sun-Times online.  Oh, and I get what Punk is saying about Undertaker's entrance...but dude's entrance at Money in the Bank last month was pretty epic.

Friday 5: Tim Anderson

Raise your hand if you've ever caught a ball at a baseball game.  Raise your hand if you've ever caught a home run ball.

How about three?

Now that I've got your attention, 17-year-old Tim Anderson did the unthinkable last week.  Not only did he catch homers on three consecutive nights...but he made ballhawking cool.

HOVG:  Break it down for me.  Over the last week, you've gone from being a 17-year-old Baltimore Orioles fan to a Sportscenter conversation piece.  How has this all played out...and what is it like?

ANDERSON: It all really happened so fast. Getting the first home run was nothing special of course.  I had done it before. Getting the second was just cool because I had never gotten multiple game home runs in the same month, let alone back-to-back games. When I caught the third, I was thinking that it was just a really big deal, and that no one would really notice it. Who at any news outlet is going to notice the same fan getting a home run in three games in a row? It's not like I did some crazy dance or anything to get noticed. 

(Fellow ballhawk and author) Zack Hample, who knows a thing or two about being noticed for catching home runs, told me as we were leaving that I shouldn't be surprised if it goes national.  Boy did it ever.  First it was the Orioles' TV broadcast station, MASN, who noticed that I had gotten all three. Then it rocketed to ESPN where I was the #9 top play of the night, then to Baseball Tonight. All of a sudden, I have interviews lined-up for the next day with MASN, ESPN, Orioles.com and the Baltimore Sun. People then tell me that I'm the top story on Yahoo!, a topic on Around the Horn, and mentioned on Intentional Talk on MLB Network. 

Now, I'm just kind of back to being that 17-year old Orioles fan...as hard as it may be to do that. 

HOVG:  What is your strategy when it comes to ballhawking?

ANDERSON: My strategy is pretty much having my glove and giving myself some space. I don't want to have to climb around people to catch a ball, and I definitely don't want to hurt anybody. Besides that, I feel as if it's out my hands. 

HOVG:  You impressed many with the three-straight home runs last week...how many home runs have you snagged overall and this season?

ANDERSON: The third homerun of the streak was my sixth on the season and ninth overall. Here's what I've caught/picked up off the ground:

1 - Adam Rosales - 5/27/10*

2 - Adam Jones - 9/14/10*

3 - Brandon Inge - 10/2/10

4 - Vladimir Guerrero - 4/20/11*

5 - Johnny Damon - 6/12/11

6 - Nolan Reimold - 7/15/11

7 - Carlos Quentin - 8/9/11

8 - J.J. Hardy - 8/10/11*

9 - Alexei Ramirez - 8/11/11*

(* means I caught them on the fly)

HOVG:  And how many balls total are in your collection?

ANDERSON: Unofficially, since I have only been counting for the last season and a half, I have 317 balls (229 this year).

HOVG:  What do you do with your baseballs?  How do you store them?  Do you catalog them?

ANDERSON: Most of the balls I end up giving away during the games. The ones I take home end up going in a large green bucket...which is almost over flowing at this point. I really don't catalog them besides updating my My Game Balls account. 

HOVG:  Outisde of the three straight homers, what has been your greatest feat so far...any memorable stories?

ANDERSON: I'd have to say the Vladimir Guerrero home run that I caught. I made a pretty athletic catch on it and celebrated a good bit afterwards, landing me extended TV time as well as MASN to make a commercial of the celebration. 

HOVG:  Lastly...is ballhawking "luck" or "skill"?

ANDERSON: It's a little bit a both. Let's just say you enhance your luck with the more skill you have. 

When Tim Anderson is not at Camden Yards, he is online contributing to both Sports Nickel and Baseball and That Other Good Stuff.  You can find "Mr. Shagtastic" on Twitter at @sportsnickelTim.

In a few weeks, Anderson will be entering his senior year at Calvert Hall College High School in Baltimore.

Friday 5: "Whisker Wars"

Plenty has been made about facial har and baseball. Hell...this site alone has posted more than its fair share on the subject.

So, with "Whisker Wars" debuting tonight on IFC...I reached out to one of its stars, Bryan Nelson, to get his take on the recent trend of facial hair in baseball.

And while the ginger-haired member of the Austin Facial Hair Club was less enamored with some of today's bearded ballplayers...he does have favorites from yesteryear.

"Did you ever hear of the House of David baseball team...Horace Hanaford, Percy Walker?" Nelson asked me. "One if those guys pitched a no-hitter against Babe Ruth or something like that."

Admittedly, I had not. So I looked them up!

Here's what Wikipedia had to say:

1913, the Israelite House of David began to play competitive baseball and by 1915, they were following a grueling schedule. The House became famous as a barnstorming baseball team, which toured rural America from the 1920s through the 1950s, playing amateur and semi-pro teams in exhibition games. They were motivated by the need to make money for their families and colony back home and by the opportunity to share their beliefs. The team members wore long hair and beards as they played.

By the late 1920s, needing more skilled players, the House began hiring professionals; the most notable being Grover Cleveland Alexander, Satchel Paige, and Mordecai Brown. Some professional players grew their beards out to show respect towards the God of Israel, while others wore false beards. They were known for their skill and played against some of the greatest teams in the country. The House of David played against Major League, Minor League, independent and Negro League teams, with all the same spirit of competition and fair play. At one point, the community had three separate barnstorming teams touring the county, playing and evangelizing wherever they went.

The House of David continued to sponsor barnstorming teams well into the 1930s and then sponsored weekend semi-professional teams until the 1940s. Mary's City of David sent out barnstorming teams from 1930 until 1940 and then again from 1946 until 1955. Throughout this period, there were numerous teams which bore the House of David name and wore beards. The most famous was probably the Black House of David, an all African-American barnstorming team that played solely within the Negro Leagues.

And if you head over to the House of David Museum website...you can find out exactly what Nelson was referencing.

Percy Walker signed a baseball bat along with Babe Ruth that year stating that he was the only one who had ever struck out Babe Ruth twice in one game! The bat that he signed used to be stored at the House of David, but has been missing for many years now.

Curious if I could find out anything else about Walker and his travelling band of bearded ballplayers...I had to see what Baseball-Reference.com wrote about the House of David.

MYTH: A House of David pitcher once struck out Babe Ruth.

TRUTH: There is no evidence to support Babe Ruth ever visiting Benton Harbor, nor the barnstorming teams ever visiting Yankee Stadium.

Now I'm thoroughly confused...did this happen or didn't it?

We'll never know!

But what we do know is this..."Whisker Wars" debuts tonight on IFC and if the first episode is any indication...award-winning producer Thom Beers (the same dude who brought us "Deadliest Catch", "Ice Road Truckers" and "Ax Men") will have another hit on his hands.

I know, I know...it's a shameless plug for "Whisker Wars" and this really wasn't a true "Friday 5", but, oh well.

Now, watch a preview for the show!

Friday 5: Jeff Idelson

Two days from now, tens of thousands of people will converge on the county seat of Otsego County, New York to celebrate the induction of Roberto Alomar, Bert Blyleven and Pat Gillick to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

The man behind the scenes is Jeff Idelson...a former Fenway Park vendor who worked his way up the ladder to become the New York Yankees director of media relations and publicity. In 2008, Idelson was named president of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum after spending time as both the director of public relations and promotions and vice president of communications and education for the organization.

I recently had a chance to catch up with Idelson...here's that exchange.

HOVG: What's the typical day like for the Hall of Fame president?

IDELSON: There's nothing typical about my day which is why I love my job so much. I spend my time helping to run our great museum in Cooperstown, overseeing a staff of about 100, staying in touch with our 67 Hall of Famers, helping build strategic business to business relationships, fund raising, traveling, giving speeches and most importantly, following our great National Pastime.

HOVG: There has to be a few of these...but what has been your favorite (or most memorable) "I can't believe I get to wake up and do this every day" moment?

IDELSON: There are many of these. Hall of Fame Weekend, when we present the plaques to our new inductees, and announcing the election results on MLB Network, are two of those moments.

HOVG: If you can answer this one...who are four or five guys that aren't in now that you'd like to see enshrined in your lifetime?

IDELSON: That's a tough question, as there are so many great players out there today. Some of the great moments for me was watching players I actually worked with earning election. Guys like Wade Boggs, Goose Gossage, Rickey Henderon, Jim Rice. Those were special moments for me.

HOVG: Is it possible for you to put together a Hall of Fame Mt. Rushmore? This could be the four guys who best represent the Hall or your four personal favorites.

IDELSON: Hmmm. You think of some of the salient players in history, the game changers, and Jackie Robinson, Babe Ruth, Roberto Clemente and Cal Ripken Jr. come to mind. They represent equality, star power, diversity and durability.

HOVG: Who are you more excited to hear...Bert Blyleven or Roberto Alomar?

IDELSON: I am excited to hear them both, as well as Pat Gillick. I know all three will give really good speeches. Bert will surely talk about the land of opportunity, coming over from Holland, Roberto will talk about being from a baseball family, and Pat can speak to so many topics. Sunday will be a day of great speeches, for sure.

HOVG: Lastly...what would be your tips for someone planning their first visit to the Hall of Fame?

IDELSON: If you like Norman Rockwell meets Baseball Mecca, you are in for a treat. We are a small town of 2,000 that represents all that's great about baseball. The museum is a 50,000 square foot step back in time to your childhood, and the Hall of Fame Gallery is the centerpiece. If you like the game, allow most of a day. If you adore the game, bring a sleeping bag. You're in for a treat.

Make sure you watch for Jeff Idelson Sunday during the Hall of Fame induction ceremony...he'll be the one grinning ear-to-ear living out every one of our dreams.  And if you aren't following the "Hall Prez" on Twitter yet...why not?  He's easy to find...he's @HallofFamePrez.